Lyrics

I tried to sleep upon my back so I couldhold her all night long as in myarms she slept, alas, but no I couldn'tand when daybreak came and found herat the far side of the bed I tried towake her, tried to stir her, but she wouldn'tIn her fug she lay like someone deadand even when I'd tug her head andpress and nip and agitate and shake heror call her name or whisper it against her ear,my breath warm, there wereno words in this universe would wake her

The girl who slept for Scotland

It took me time to comprehendthis state of play extended untoall her working, waking, shaking hoursfor when she finally woke, deep in the daystill she did sleepwalk like a hollow ghosta-float in haunted towersand though she heard she didn't seeand though she saw she didn't hear,attending only to what seemed precise and kindfor she was settled in her dream,a shopping list of small illusions,pretty stories that she told her drowsy mind

The girl who slept for Scotland

Yet I remember a day by a river wildwhen she clung to me hard like a darling childAnd a night in the sheets of a Dublin bedwhen she moaned like a womanand gave sweet headwhen we sang in tongues togetherand our synchronised guitarsplayed music to the raftersmade love among the starsand our bodies beat like lightin love's beautiful embraceas her tiny kisses burst likepopping suns around my face

but then drift, decline, collapse,the lights went out, she fell asleep againbefore my kiss-wet face was even dryI need another haircut she'd say,talking in her sleep, the sleep-motesgathered in the dust-bowls of her eyeshe teetered down the road apiece,she and her man, from dozy bedsit landto junkshop, with her sleeping clothes in sacksand when I'd gone she teetered down the road again,yawning as she went,and went and brought the bloody damn things back

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